The Prior Art reports that after four days of courtroom testimony in Tyler, Texas, the "Troll Tracker" defamation lawsuit ended last night in a confidential settlement. The jury was set to hear closing arguments and begin deliberations today.

According to The Prior Art:

Cisco issued a statement
Tuesday morning in which it said the dispute between the parties "has
been resolved to their mutual satisfaction, and Rick Frenkel and Cisco
apologize for the statements of Rick Frenkel on the Troll Tracker blog
regarding Eric M. Albritton."

We've previously covered the ongoing saga of the anonymous blogger who caused an uproar in East Texas with his unbridled commentary on the so-called "patent trolls" that frequent its court system. Back in 2007, famed patent plaintiffs lawyer Ray Niro even offered a bounty to anyone who could reveal the identity of the blogger. But it was a pair of East Texas trial lawyers who ended up suing the blogger, Cisco lawyer Frenkel, for defamation.

The case settled shortly after Judge Richard Schell ruled that the jurors would have to find "actual malice" on the part of the defendants, Cisco and Frenkel, for plaintiff Eric Albritton to obtain punitive damages in the case. The whole affair is a bizarre story that offers insights into the patent litigation hotbed that is East Texas, corporate patent strategy, public relations and free speech -- and IP Law & Business reporter Joe Mullin has all the juicy details here, here and here.

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East Texas 'Troll Tracker' Defamation Lawsuit Settles

The Prior Art reports that after four days of courtroom testimony in Tyler, Texas, the "Troll Tracker" defamation lawsuit ended last night in a confidential settlement. The jury was set to hear closing arguments and begin deliberations today.

According to The Prior Art:

Cisco issued a statement
Tuesday morning in which it said the dispute between the parties "has
been resolved to their mutual satisfaction, and Rick Frenkel and Cisco
apologize for the statements of Rick Frenkel on the Troll Tracker blog
regarding Eric M. Albritton."

We've previously covered the ongoing saga of the anonymous blogger who caused an uproar in East Texas with his unbridled commentary on the so-called "patent trolls" that frequent its court system. Back in 2007, famed patent plaintiffs lawyer Ray Niro even offered a bounty to anyone who could reveal the identity of the blogger. But it was a pair of East Texas trial lawyers who ended up suing the blogger, Cisco lawyer Frenkel, for defamation.

The case settled shortly after Judge Richard Schell ruled that the jurors would have to find "actual malice" on the part of the defendants, Cisco and Frenkel, for plaintiff Eric Albritton to obtain punitive damages in the case. The whole affair is a bizarre story that offers insights into the patent litigation hotbed that is East Texas, corporate patent strategy, public relations and free speech -- and IP Law & Business reporter Joe Mullin has all the juicy details here, here and here.